Shelving structure



luly 1.4, 1931. E. MLCALLY 1,814,090 l sHELvLNG sTnUcTURE Filed Feb. 19,4 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @291 /24 Il' III IHIH Ilm" 'lill l Ill if "lllllln Uilm IZ Il V INVENTQR EMAN UEL MICALLY ATTORNEYS lim fb 'A um Immun 19, 195o 2 sheets-sneer 2 E. MlcALLY SHELVING STRUCTURE Filed Feb.

July 14 INVENTOR EMANUEL MICALLY ATTORNEYS gil,

Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES MANUEL MICALLY, 0F JACKSON HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL PATENT OFFICE FIXTURE CORPORTION, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SHELVING STRUCTURE v Application filed February 19, 1930. VSerial No. 429,538. v

An important object of the vpresent invention isto provide a shelving structure of generally improved design.

Another object of the invention is topro- .15 vide, in a shelving structure, improved means for supporting the shelves and rendering them vertically adjustable.

Another object of the invention is to .provide in a shelving structure, improved means to render the shelves vertically adjustable quickly and easily and without the use of tools.

Another object of the invention is to pro- -videan improved mounting for a bin front or panel used to partly close the space between the front edges of a pair of adjacent shelves. j 4Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front view of my improved shelving structure partly in section; n

-Fig. 2 a horizontal section taken on ythe line 2-2 of Fig. l; y u

Fig. 3 a vertical section taken on `theline 3-3 of Fig. l upon a larger scale;

Fig. 4 a horizontal section upon a larger scale taken on'the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 a plan View partly in section of one 30 of the shelf corners;

vFigf a sectional perspectiveV view of .two of the shelf-supporting beams;

Fig. 7 a sectional perspective view showing -a joint between a shelf and an upright; Fig. 8 an end lView of the upper and lower parts of the shelving structure; v

Fig. 9 a perspective View vof one end .of the bin front;

i Fig. 10 a horizontal section taken through the `bin front; and

' Fig. 1l a vertical section taken through the panel for closing the space between the lowermost shelf and the floor.

, The shelving structure includes a plurality of hollow uprights l. For a structure ,having a single tier of shelves four of these uprights are required and they aredesigned for supporting additional shelves at either side :of said .tie-r when required, as indicated by fo dotted lines in F ig.4 1. Each tier is formed of a stout sheet metal blank which is formed into a substantially rectangulartubular shape by a simple rolling process. The margins 2 of the blank are turned outwardly at the middle of one of the longer sides of the rec- 55 two vertical rowsof equally spaced elongated I' .slots o opening into the interior of the upright. The slots in both rows are of the same shape and size and are similarly spaced along susbtanti-ally the entire length of the upright. Formed in the margins 2 are bolt 'apertures Llarranged'in a vertical rowy and spaced similarly to the slots 3. Preferably the margins 2 are spaced slightly apart so that a side cover panel may be mounted between them, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4.

A plurality ofshelves 5 are adjustably supported between the uprights. Each shelf is formed of a sheetmetal blank which is folded along its front and rear edges to form an inl tegral, double ply beam `6. The end margins of the shelf blank are turned downwardly to form flanges 7, and each of said flanges is crimped inwardly to form a rib 8 extending along the length thereof. This rib serves to strengthen the flange and also has another purpose which will appear hereinafter. At

each corner the shelf is formed with a square cut notch 9 which adapts the shelf to fit y raround the upright at each corner, dispose the beam 6 flush with the outer face of the upright and dispose the flange 7 so that its end portion abuts the rib formed by the npright margins 2. The latter extend at right angles from the inner face 10 of the upright land form therewith two corners into each ofV which a corner to fit. e

Each shelf 'is supported along its ends by two rigid angle beams 11.

portion of a shelf is adapted y Each beam is I `preferably formed by a stout sheet metal vblank folded.longitudinally to form an'uprightweb 12 anda horizontal flange 13 `upon which the shelfrests. At each end the web 1,2 is reduce-d in width, and is formed with a lnotch or slot la extending straight upward v the beams 11 is a cross beam 17.

from the lower edge of the web. This notch gives the beam end a hook-like form to releasably interlock in any one of the slots. llach end of flange 18 is cut away as at 15 to provide clearance for the upright and forms a tongue 16 which extends past the upright to a point near the adjacent e-dge of the shelf. Thereby the latter is firmly supported at the upright. Extending between This beam is T-shaped in cross section having a flat top 18 and a depending centra-l web 19. At an intermediate point each beam 11 has its flange 13 slit and depressed t0 form a flat countersunk seat 2O for the ends of the beam top 18, the slit providing clearance for the web 19. The beam rests upon said seats with its top surface flush with the upper surfaces of beams 11 and the shelf rests flat upon all th ee of said beams with its ends supported by beams 11 and its medial portion supported by beam 17.

ln assembling the shelving structure the top and bottom shelves are preferably first mounted in place to hold the uprights properly positioned to receive the intermediate shelves. Since the upper and lower shelves are to remain in lined positions they are preferably bolted as indicated at 21. The bolts 'f are passed through apertures 22 and 23 formed in the shelf flanges 7 and the beams 11 respectively and through certainof the apertures 41 in the upright margins 2. Each shelf and each beam 11 is provided with bolt apertures so that the shelves and beams will all be interchangeable. Preferably the uprights will also be connected by bracing means to give rigidity to the structure. The bracing means, however, forms no part of the present invention and is omitted to simplify the showing. The shelves are all mounted in place in the same manner. Each end beam 11 is first mounted in place by interlocking its hook-like ends in slots 3 located at the proper level. Crossbeam 17 is then seated upon beams 11 and the shelf is placed upon the assemble-d beams. l./Vhen the shelf is in position its front and rear edge beams 6 are flush or substantially flush with the outer faces of the uprights and its end flanges 7 cover the outer sides of beams 11 and extend into the corners formed by the uprights. lilere they bear aga-inst the margins 2 and their ribs S bear against the depen-ding webs 12 of the beams. These ribs are springy and inwardljf bowed and preferably malte a close wedge-like lit between a margin 2 and the opposed beam 11 within the corner of the upright. rlChe ribbed flanges then serve as spacer means to prevent play at the interlocking connections and also asholding means to frictionally hold the shelf in place upon the beams.

Vvrl'ien it is required to adjust a shelf to a adjustment.

by application of slight upwardly directed force to overcome the said frictional engagement and free the ribbed flanges 7 from the beams 11. The beams 11 and 17 are then accessible so that the beam 17 may be lifted from the beams 11 and the latter separately removed and interloclred in other slots 3 at the new level. Thereupon the crossbeam 17 is placed in position upon beams 11 and the shelf is replaced thereon. The slots 3 are made considerably longer than the depth of the beam ends to provide ample clearance for easy manipulation of the latter into and out of interlocking position.

By supporting the shelves as described the mounting and the adjustment thereof to different levels greatly facilitated and the shelves are more strongly supported than when mere bolts are employed for securing them to the uprigh'fs. Furthermore the interlocking connections between the shelves and the uprights are located in concealed and unobstructing positions. The surfaces exposed to view and those exposed to contact with the shelf contents in the handling and storage thereof are all smooth. T ie feature of design which provides for the extension of the front and rear edges of the shelves outward to positions flush with the outer faces of the uprights is also very advantageous. This enables two similar shelving units to be disposed back to back without a gap between corresponding shelves of the two units.

ln some cases it is required to provide a bin front or retaining panel to partly close the space between the forward edges of two adjacent shelves. l have provided an improved bin front designed to cooperate with the slotted uprights ust described and adapt the bin front to be readily removed and adjnsted vertically in accordance with the shelf This bin front comprises an elongated, rectangular sheet metal panel 24, folded inwardly along its lower edge to form ay horizontal flange 25 to rest upon the shelf and rolled at its upper edge as at 26. A vertical angle iron 27 is mounted at each end of panel 2l and secured by spot welding or other suitable means. Une flange f this angle iron is adapted to bear against the inner side of the adjacent upright and is formed with two tongues Q8. Each tongue extends outwardly from the rear edge of the flange and then forwardly and is formed with a shouldered hook-like end designed to -pass into one of the slots 3 of the upright and releasably interlock therein. The tongues are so located that when they are interloclred in the proper slots above a. shelf they will support the bin front upright with its lower fiange Q in Contact with the shelf. By

.merely lifting and tilting the bin front it dill'erentlevel it is tlrstlifted from the beams may be easily removed for vertical adjust ment or to facilitate the removal or insertion ofthe shelf contents.

It is also requiredin some cases to close the pace between the lowcrmost Ashelf and the oor. VF or this purpose I have provided a panel 29 whosestructure is in every way similar to that ofthe bin front except that the rolled upper edfre of the latter is replaced by a horizontal an e 30 to contact with the under side of the epending shelf beam 6. This panel is attached to the uprights in the same manner as the bin front and is held locked thereto by contact with the shelf beam 6 which prevents it from lifting and releasing.

While I have shown and described a very desirable form of my invention I do not wish to be limited strictly to this disclosure but reserve the right to make such changes as will lie within the scope ofthe claims. v

lfVhat I claim is:

' l. A shelving structure comprising a shelf; a plurality of uprights arranged in pairsan'd each formed with Walls therealong disposed at an angle to each other and forming a corner to receive acorner portion of the shelf, one of said upright corner walls being formed with a plurality of vertically spaced elongated slots; a plurality of beams each eX- tending between a pair of said uprights and into said corners thereof to support a shelf along opposite edges thereof; vand tongues carried by said beams'extending straight out longitudinally from the ends thereof and formed to releasably interlock in said slots and support the beams and shelf for vertical adjustment alonT the uprights, the shelf being supported for removal from the beams to facilitate the adjustmentof the latter. Y

2. A shelving structure comprising a shelf; a pluralityl of uprights arranged in pairs and each formedwith walls there'along disposed at an angle to each other and forming a corner to receive'a corner portion of the shelf, one of said upright corner walls being formed with a plurality of vertically f spaced elongated slots opening into the interior of the upright; a plurality of beams each extending lbetween a pair of said rvLip-,

rights and into said corner thereof to support a shelf along opposite edges thereof; tongues carried by said beams extending straight outward longitudinally from the ends of the beams and formed to releasably interlock in said slots and support the beams and shelf for vertical adjustment along the uprights, the shelf being supported for removal from the beams to facilitate the adjustment of the latter; and spacer means carried by the shelf and formed and disposed for wedging between the beams and the uprights, within said corners, to prevent play of said tongues in the slots and frictionally hold the shelf and beams in place.

3. A shelving structure comprising a shelf;

a plurality of uprights arranged in pairs and each formed with walls therealong disposed at an angle to each other and forming a corner to receive a corner portion of the shelf, one of'said upright corner walls being formed with a plurality of vertically spaced elongated slots; a plurality of beams each extending between a pair of said uprights and into said corners thereof to support a shelf along opposite edges thereof; tongues carried by said beams to releasably interlock in said slots and support the beams and shelf for vertical adjustment along the uprights, the shelf being supported for removal from the beams to facilitate the adjustment of the latter; downwardly extending flanges carried by the shelf and-adapted to be interposed between the beams and the uprights within said corners ofthe latter; and spacing means carried by said flanges for engagement with the uprights within said corners to prevent play of said tongues in the sl-ots and frictionally hold the shelf and beams in place. l

In a shelving structure; a shelf; an upright formed with walls therealong disposed at an angle to each other and forming a 4corner to receive a corner portion ofthe shelf;

one of said upright corner walls being formed.

with plurality of vertically spaced elongated slots; a shelf-supporting beam; a tongue carried by said beam to releasably interlock in 'said slots to support the beam and shelf and render th-em vertically adjust--v able along 'the upright, the shelf being supported upon said beamfor removal therefrom without disturbing the connection of the beam with the upright; a flange carried by the shelfto interpose between the beam4 and the upright within said corner of the latter;

and spacing means carried by said flange for engagement with th-e upright within said corner to prevent play of the interlocked tongue and frictionally hol-d the beam and shelf in place. i

5. A shelving structure comprising a plurality of spaced uprights arranged in pairs; a plurality of shelf-supporting beamsI each extending between a pair of said uprights for supporting said shelf; means to connect said beams to the uprights and provide for their vertical adjustment along the uprights; a countersunk seat formed upon eachof said beams intermediate the ends thereof; -a cross beam loosely supported at its ends upon said seats; and a shelf resting upon all of said beams :andadapted to be lifted therefrom for the adjustment of the beams; Y v y6. A shelving structure `comprising a shelf; a plurali-ty of spaced uprights ar-V ranged in pairs and each formed with walls therealong disposed at an angle to eachother Vand forming a corner to receive corner portions of the shelf; one of said upright corner walls being formed with a plurality of vertically spaced slots; a plurality of shelf-suplli) porting beams each extending between a pair of said uprights; tongues carried by said beams to releasably interlock in said slots and support the beams for vertical adjustment; a countersunl: seat formed upon each of said beams intermediate the ends thereof; and a cross beam loosely supported at its ends upon said seats; the shelf resting upon all of said beams and being free to be lift-ed from them for the adjustment of the beams.

7. A shelving` structure comprising a shelf; a pair of spaced hollow front uprights each formed at its rear side with walls ther-ealong disposed at an angle to each other and forming a corner to receive a corner portion of the shelf, one of said upright corner walls being formed with a vertical row of spaced apertures opening into the interior of the upright; a pair of beams to support said shelf along its opposite ends extending into said corners; tongues carried by said beams to releasably interlock in said apertures and support the beams for vertical adjustment;

a bin front in the form of a panel extending` between said uprights; and angular tongues carried by said panel at its opposite ends and formed and disposed to releasably interlock in said slots above the shelf and support the panel just above the forward edge of the shelf and adapt it to be vertically adjusted according to the adjustments of the shelf.

8. A shelving structure comprising a shelf; four corner uprights each formed with walls therealong disposed at an angle to each other and forming a corner to receive a corner of the shelf; beams extending along the shelf ends and supportingV them and extending straight foreand-aft into said corners of the adjacent uprights, the corner walls of the latter directlyopposed to the beam ends being formed with keeper apertures; locking tongues carried bythe beams and extending straight outward longitudinally from the ends thereof to enter and releasably interlock in said keeper apertures; and reinforcing means carried by the shelf extending along the front edge thereof and unattached to the uprights.

9. A shelving structure comprising a shelf; four corner uprights each formed with walls therealong disposed at an angle to each other and forming a corner to receive a corner of the shelf; beams extending along and beneath the shelf ends and detachably supporting them and extending straight fore-and-aft into said corners of the adjacent upright-s; one wall of each corner being directly opposed to the adjacent beam end Y and formed with vertically spaced keeper apertures; locking tongues carried by the beams and extending straight outward from the ends thereof to enter and releasably interlock in selected ones of said apertures: depending flanges carried by the ends or the shelf to interpose between the beams and the uprights in the corners of the latter; and resilient locking and spacing means carried by said ianges and insertable therewith between the outer sides of the beams andthe uprights within said corners to prevent play and displacement of the beams, give rigidity to the structure and yieldably hold the shelf down upon the beams.

10. Ay shelving structure comprising a shelf; four corner uprights each formed with walls therealong disposed at an angle to each other and forming a corner to receive a corner of the shelf; beams extending along and beneath the shelf ends and detachably supporting them andl extending straight fore-and-aft into said corners of the adjacent uprights, one wall of each corner being directlyY opposed to the adjacent beam end and formed with vertically spaced keeper apertures; locking tongues carried by the beams and extending straight outward from the ends thereof to enter and releasably interlock in selected ones of said apertures; depending lianges carried by the ends of the shelf to interpose between the beams and the uprights in the corners of the latter; resilient locking and spacing means carried by said flanges and insertable therewith between the beams and the uprights within said corners to prevent play and displacement of the beams; give rigidity to the structure and yieldably hold the shelf down upon the beams; and a reinforcing beam integrally formed upon the shelf along the front edge thereof.

11. A shelving structure comprising a shelf; four corner uprights each formed with walls therealong disposed at an angle to each other and forming a corner to receive a corner of the shelf; beams extending along the shelf ends and supporting them and extending straight fore-and-aft into said corners of the adjacent uprights, the corner walls of the latter directly opposed to the beam ends being formed with keeper apertures; and locking tongues carried by the beams and extending straight outward longitudinally froml the ends thereof to enter and releasably interlock in said keeper apertures.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

EMANUEL MICALLY. 

